Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes: a cabinet; a tub; a pump for discharging washing water stored in the tub to an outside of the tub; and a valve assembly for circulating washing water discharged from the pump to the tub and discharging washing water to an outside of the cabinet. The valve assembly includes: a valve housing; a first chamber defined inside the valve housing and configured to connect to a circulation flow path for sending washing water to the tub and a drainage flow path for draining washing water to the outside of the cabinet; and a disc valve configured to linearly move inside the first chamber and selectively connect the first chamber to the drainage flow path or to the circulation flow path based on a water pressure applied by washing water discharged from the pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet that defines an outer shape of the washing machine; 
 a tub disposed inside the cabinet and configured to receive washing water; 
 a pump configured to discharge washing water received in the tub to an outside of the tub; and 
 a valve assembly that is configured to circulate, to the tub, washing water discharged from the pump and that is configured to discharge washing water to an outside of the cabinet, 
 wherein the valve assembly comprises:
 a valve housing that defines an exterior of the valve assembly and that defines a valve space therein configured to receive washing water, 
 a first chamber that is defined inside the valve housing and that is configured to connect to (i) a circulation flow path configured to guide washing water to the tub and (ii) a drainage flow path configured to discharge washing water to the outside of the cabinet, and 
 a disc valve that is configured to linearly move inside the first chamber in a first direction and a second direction and that is configured to, based on a water pressure applied by washing water discharged from the pump, selectively connect the first chamber to the drainage flow path or to the circulation flow path, 
 
 wherein the valve housing defines therein:
 a first channel that connects the first chamber to the circulation flow path, 
 a second channel that connects the first chamber to the drainage flow path, 
 a second chamber that connects the first chamber to the second channel and that accommodates at least a portion of the disc valve, and 
 a channel communication hole between the first chamber and the first channel, 
 
 wherein the valve housing further comprises an internal partition wall that partitions the valve space into the first chamber and the second chamber, the internal partition wall defining a chamber communication hole disposed at a center area of the internal partition wall and configured to communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber, and 
 wherein the disc valve is configured to selectively open and close the chamber communication hole or the channel communication hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the disc valve is configured to:
 based on moving in the first direction, block communication between the first chamber and the drainage flow path; and 
 based on moving in the second direction, block communication between the first chamber and the circulation flow path. 
 
     
     
       3. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the disc valve is configured to, based on the water pressure exceeding a set pressure, connect the first chamber to the drainage flow path. 
     
     
       4. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the disc valve is configured to, based on the water pressure being less than or equal to a set pressure, connect the first chamber to the circulation flow path. 
     
     
       5. The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an elastic member configured to, based on elastic force, allow the disc valve to connect the first chamber to the circulation flow path. 
 
     
     
       6. The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member is configured to provide the elastic force to the disc valve in a direction opposite to a flow direction of washing water flowing inside the first chamber. 
     
     
       7. The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the pump is configured to, based on the valve assembly being in a circulation mode in which washing water is circulated to the tub, discharge washing water to maintain the water pressure to be less than or equal to the elastic force applied to the disc valve by the elastic member. 
     
     
       8. The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein the pump is configured to, based on the valve assembly being in a drainage mode in which washing water is discharged to the outside of the cabinet, discharge washing water to maintain the water pressure to be greater than the elastic force applied to the disc valve by the elastic member. 
     
     
       9. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing comprises:
 a first valve housing that defines the first chamber and the first channel; and 
 a second valve housing that defines the second channel. 
 
     
     
       10. The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the first valve housing comprises:
 a housing body that defines a housing space that allows the disc valve to move in the first direction and the second direction; and 
 a first connector that defines the first channel. 
 
     
     
       11. The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the second valve housing comprises:
 a second connector that defines the second channel therein; and 
 a disc guider configured to guide a vertical movement of the disc valve. 
 
     
     
       12. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the disc valve comprises:
 a first disc valve disposed inside the first chamber and configured to open and close the channel communication hole defined between the first chamber and the first channel; 
 a second disc valve disposed vertically above the first chamber and configured to open and close a chamber communication hole defined between the first chamber and the second channel; and 
 a disc connecting bar that connects the first disc valve and the second disc valve to each other. 
 
     
     
       13. The washing machine of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an elastic member configured to, based on elastic force, allow the disc valve to connect the first chamber to the circulation flow path, 
 wherein the first disc valve is configured to receive the water pressure in an upward direction from washing water introduced toward the first chamber, and 
 wherein the second disc valve is configured to receive the elastic force in a downward direction from the elastic member. 
 
     
     
       14. The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the first disc valve comprises:
 a disc plate configured to receive the water pressure applied by washing water introduced toward the first chamber; and 
 a sealer disposed at an upper side of the disc plate and configured to open and close at least a portion of the channel communication hole. 
 
     
     
       15. The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the second disc valve has a conical shape having a sectional area decreasing downward. 
     
     
       16. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the valve housing further comprises a pump connector that is connected to the pump, the pump connector defining a pump channel configured to receive washing water discharged from the pump and guide washing water to the first chamber. 
     
     
       17. The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the first chamber defines a chamber flow path having a first cross-sectional area,
 wherein the pump channel defines an inflow path having a second cross-sectional area, 
 wherein a diameter of the first cross-sectional area of the chamber flow path is greater than a diameter of the second cross-sectional area of the inflow path, and 
 wherein the disc valve is spaced apart from an inflow end of the first chamber that faces the pump channel. 
 
     
     
       18. The washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an elastic member housing that accommodates that elastic member and that defines a gap from an outer circumference of the elastic member, 
 wherein the elastic member housing comprises:
 a first elastic member housing that surrounds a lower portion of the elastic member and that is disposed at an upper side of the disc valve, and 
 a second elastic member housing that surrounds an upper portion of the elastic member and that is disposed at a side of the valve housing, a portion of the second elastic member housing being inserted into the first elastic member housing. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the channel communication hole is defined between an outer surface of the internal partition wall and an inner surface of the valve housing, and
 wherein the disc valve comprises a first disc valve disposed outside the second chamber, and a second disc valve disposed inside the second chamber. 
 
     
     
       20. The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the disc valve is configured to:
 based on moving in the first direction, block the chamber communication hole and open the channel communication hole; and 
 based on moving in the second direction, open the chamber communication hole and block the channel communication hole.